Improvement in snap-hooks



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Be it known that I, B. B. HoTcHKIss, of thecity, county, and Statoof New York, manufacturer of projec, tiles and hardware, have invented a certain new and improved Snap-Hook 'fouuse in harness and analogous situations; and Ido hereby declare that the4 following is n full andexact description thereof. The accompanyingY drawingsform a parto ftl1is specification; i

' Figure 1 is aside view. A

Figure 2, a central longitudinal section.A

Figure 3, a back view'.

Figure 4, a cross-section on the line S S in g. 3; and

Figure 5, a cross-section onIthe line"'. l T in iig. 3.

Figure 6, a longitudinalsection on a larger scale.

Figure 7, a Acorresponding partial section of a modification; and

Figure 8, a corresponding partial section. of another niodiication Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

-The material which 1 prefer for theV skeleton snapis malleable cast iron. The lmaterial of .the tongue may be the same. The spriug'is by 'preference steel. i i

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operationby'the aid `ofthe drawings and the-letters of reference marked thereon.

The front of the hook isindicated by A, and the point of the tongue by B. v'lhev spring is imlicatedby', A.

and the screw or rivet by which the latter is conlned by D. '0n the facebf thetonguc, at the root, or the end farthest from the point B, is a'spur or projection, indicated by b, which tits, into a corresponding recess in' the snap. The tongue isconiined by this spur or projecti'on'iu such a manner that it cannot move endwise or sides wise so long as the spring C is active in confining it firmly in its proper contact with the recess. The spring C is f suicient tension to perform this fu'nction under vall circumstances, and also to act as a spring in'allowing the end b of the ton'gue'to yield and move backward fromthe point A of the hook to allow of the introduction and removal of a link, ring, staple, or whatever the hook receives. The tongue is shielded near the point by th bridge A on the skeleton frame. This bridge extends across Vover the face o f the tongue, but at such a distance in front as allows thetongue always to move forward and'come to of firm bearing against the point A of the hook. The tongue is guided as it moves backward and forwardv by contact with the sides of the slot a in the skeleton snap in which it travels, as will beobvious from ihe drawings. The root ie also guardedagainst displacement sidewise bythe form of the skeleton adjacent thereto in addition 'to the/resistance to lateral movement o'ered by the spur-b. The skeleton hook is widened and made open between the bridge A andthe root' of the tongue, in order to allow the introduction of the thumb to press back theltongue whenever it is desired to liberate a ring, or the like, enclosed. The advantages due .to' my invention are, great safety from derangcment or fracture,

economy of construction, andgreat facility for operating it. The part ofthe snap which is adapted to receive tbc strap or attachment maybe round instead of oblong, asrepresented, and the for-m of the'hook generally may be .'nodied greatly to suit any particular circumstance, or according to the taste of the constructor, as will bc obvious to any mechanic. The spririg C, and consequently the tongue B b, may be confined by a screw or other mechanical device in lieu of the rivet D; I ,prefer e. rivet, as, represented in fig. 6. In lieu of the single project'ion b, on the face of thetongue, I can employ two projections, one on each side, adapted to-t into corre soonding grooves or recesses; one su'ch side projection instead of two may be employed, but I prefer two. Two or more spurs on the face adapted to tA into a corresponding number of recesses in the skeleton may be used if preferred. I consider these obvious modifications of my invention, so also will be the employment -of one or' morek recesses in the root of the tongue receiving corresponding projections from the skeleton hook, theobject ofmy invention being accomplished in substantially the same manner .as above described, wheneverthev root of the tongueis confined by grooves or cavities in the one part receiving projections from the other part, und held firmly' in contactin all positions by the spring, I can.if preferred employ a mere projection cast o n the skeleton in lieu of the screw or rivet D, crushing or heading such projection upon the spring C like thc'head o f arivet, as shown in iig. 7. This will save somewhat in cost,l but will make a weaker fastening -thanvthose represented.

2 e *any represented,` greatly diminishes the risk' of fracture ordersn-gement from side strains.

Having now fully` described what I claim es my improvement in snnp'llooks, whstI desire to .secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. I claim, in a snap-shook, lmving a rgid`^`internnl`tqngue operated, bye. separate springthe interloeking of the rootpf the vtongue oud the conning of tlieuloeked parte by the same spring wlxohoperates the tongue, l

substantially in the manner sud for the purpose hereinl set forth. A

2.` I claim, iu combinationfwith u. rigid tongue, mounted und operating in n hook, as described, the slot or recess a having parallel sides udxpce to guide the fougue near its point and resist eide strains, substantially `ma herein set forth. A v

B. B. HOTOHKISS.

Witnesses:

D. W. Srmsox, W. Tnmnrm 

